Friedrich ernst thomas



(No Model.)

P. E. THOMAS. DEVICE FOR THROWING DICE.

o. 592,263 Patented Oct. 26,1891

1 ETERS (20.. Pnumu-rua, wAsHmsTuu, u. c.

Unirsn Srarns Permit @rricn.

FRIEDRICH ERNST THOMAS, or STEINIGWOOLMSDORF, GERMANY.

DEVlCE FORTH ROWING DECE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters was No. 592,263, dated October 26, 1897. Application filed January 11, 1897. Serial NO. 618,769. (No model.)

'[0 all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH ERNST THOMAS, a citizen of the Kingdom of Saxony, and a resident of Steinigwoolmsdorf, near Bautzen, in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Mechanisms orDevices forThrowing Dice, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in mechanisms or devices for throwing dice; and it consists in an inclosing case provided with a glass top and projections upon its inner sides for the dice to strike against, combined with a rotary disk upon which the dice are placed,

and a mechanism for rotating the disk andcausing the dice'to fly outwardly against the a vertical cross-section of a mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line X X of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views of the operating mechanism. 7

A represents a suitable inclosing case,which is preferably made circular in shape, and of any suitable material. The top of this case is closed by a glass cover B, through whichthe' movements of the dice are watched. Secured to or formed upon the inner sides of the upper portion of this case A are the projections A against which the dice are thrown, and by which projections the dice are made to revolve or turn end over end when they strike against the projections. The dice are placed upon the rotating disk F, which is located at a suitable distance below the glass cover and which is rigidly secured to the shaft B which is provided with a pinion H at its lower end. This shaft B is kept in avertical position by a suitable support (3, which is secured to a plate B, that is secured to the bottom of the case. Meshing with this pinion H is the 0perating-wheel H,which is placed loosely upon the lower end of the shaft J, which has its lower end journaled in the plate D. Just above this wheel H is placed a ratchet-wheel L, upon the top of which is placed an inclosing case 0, in which a coil-spring Q is placed. One end of this spring is secured to the shaft J, and the other is secured to the inclosing case 0. The ratchet L is placed in contact with the top of the wheel H,and pivoted upon the wheel H is a pawl L, which is made to engage with the teeth of the ratchet L by means of the spring S. \rVhen the ratchet L revolves backward, the pawlslips idly over its teeth, but when the ratchet is forced around by the spring the pawl L is made to force the wheel H around with it.

Upon the upper part of the inclosing case 0 is formed a winding-drum T,and above this drum is placed a plateK for the purpose of causing the cord M to wrap between it and the top of the case 0.

A winding cord having one end fastened to the drum passes up over the two guiding-pulleys M, and has its upper end fastened to the lower end of an operating pushrod U, which plays vertically in a narrow extension P,formed upon one side of the case A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When this rod Uis depressed, the cord M is unwound from the drum T at the same time that the ratchet L is caused to revolve in such a manner as to uncoil the spring Q. The ratchet L revolves backward while the spring is being uncoiled, and hence the pawl L slips idly over its teeth and the wheel H remains stationary. As soon as the push-rod U is released the tension of the spring in rewinding causes the ratchet to revolve for ward, and then the pawl L causes the wheel H to also revolve and operate the pinion H, shaft B, and disk F. A sudden rotary motion being imparted to the disk F, the dice lying thereon are suddenly and violently thrown against the inner side of the case and the projections A and thus caused to roll and tumble around. As these dice are entirely beyond all outside influences, the positions they assume are entirely a matter of chance, and hence there is. no such thing as cheating with them. As the spring rewinds the cord M upon the drum T the rod U is returned 'to'its normal position.

IOO

IIavin g thus described in y invention, I claim- Aninclosingcase provided with projections upon its inner side, the rotating disk upon which the dice are placed, an operating mechanism for rotating the disk; a cord connected to the operating mechanism, guiding-pulleys around which the cord passes,and a verticallyinoving actuated rod which is connected to the [O cord, and which rod is returned to its normal position when left free to move by the move ment of the operating mechanism in rotating the disk, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two suscribing witnesses.

FRIEDRICH ERNST THOMAS.

Witnesses:

HERNANDO DE SoTo, CARL BROWN. 

